Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08DJIBOUTI957
2008-12-01 14:57:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Djibouti
Cable title:
DEMARCHE: ENHANCING EFFORTS TO COMBAT PIRACY -
how-toVZCZCXYZ0006 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHDJ #0957 3361457 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 011457Z DEC 08 FM AMEMBASSY DJIBOUTI TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9766 INFO RUEHAD/AMEMBASSY ABU DHABI PRIORITY 0200 RUEHBJ/AMEMBASSY BEIJING PRIORITY 0023 RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN PRIORITY 0083 RUEHEG/AMEMBASSY CAIRO PRIORITY 0170 RUEHCP/AMEMBASSY COPENHAGEN PRIORITY 0039 RUEHLO/AMEMBASSY LONDON PRIORITY 0705 RUEHMD/AMEMBASSY MADRID PRIORITY 0017 RUEHMO/AMEMBASSY MOSCOW PRIORITY 0047 RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI PRIORITY 3395 RUEHNE/AMEMBASSY NEW DELHI PRIORITY 0011 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS PRIORITY 0993 RUEHRH/AMEMBASSY RIYADH PRIORITY 0179 RUEHYN/AMEMBASSY SANAA PRIORITY 1728
C O N F I D E N T I A L DJIBOUTI 000957
SIPDIS
PM/ISO: J.FREDERICK AND PM/PPA: D.GLANCY
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/01/2018
TAGS: MOPS PBTS PHSA PTER DJ SO KPKO
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE: ENHANCING EFFORTS TO COMBAT PIRACY -
DJIBOUTI SEEKS COOPERATION
REF: A. SECSTATE 125514
B. DJIBOUTI 950 (NOTAL)
C. DJIBOUTI 947 (NOTAL)
Classified By: DCM ERIC WONG. REASON: 1.4 (B) AND (D).
C O N F I D E N T I A L DJIBOUTI 000957
SIPDIS
PM/ISO: J.FREDERICK AND PM/PPA: D.GLANCY
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/01/2018
TAGS: MOPS PBTS PHSA PTER DJ SO KPKO
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE: ENHANCING EFFORTS TO COMBAT PIRACY -
DJIBOUTI SEEKS COOPERATION
REF: A. SECSTATE 125514
B. DJIBOUTI 950 (NOTAL)
C. DJIBOUTI 947 (NOTAL)
Classified By: DCM ERIC WONG. REASON: 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (C) Per Ref A, Ambassador has raised USG talking points
on combating Somali piracy with key Government of Djibouti
principals, including Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf,
Presidential National Security Advisor Hassan Said Khaireh,
and Minister for Islamic Affairs Hamoud Abdi Sultan (whose
portfolio includes Somalia issues).
2. (U) As reftels note, Djibouti is increasingly engaged in
international efforts to combat Somali piracy, ranging from
hosting military facilities from which European nations have
pursued unilateral or multilateral anti-piracy patrols (e.g.,
Spanish P-3 maritime surveillance aircraft, the UK frigate
HMS Northumberland, German frigate in support of the
multinational CTF-150, French plans for the ESDP) to planning
an IMO conference in late January 2009 to address legal
conventions that could be used to stem piracy.
3. (C) According to French Ambassador Dominique DeCherf,
Djibouti is coordinating with France and the EU on status of
forces agreements (SOFAs) for international contingents that
will be based in Djibouti to conduct anti-piracy efforts.
DeCherf expects the Djiboutians to conclude the SOFAs quickly.
-------------- --------------
ULTIMATELY, LAND-BASED SOLUTION IS NEEDED TO STOP PIRACY
-------------- --------------
4. (C) Djibouti's foreign minister recommends international
support for formation of a 200-300 person Somali naval
counter-piracy contingent, as part of a newly established
Somali security force to be formed jointly (ref B) by
Somalia's Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the
opposition Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia (ARS).
However, in addition to supporting active naval patrols and
legal frameworks, senior Djiboutian interlocutors (including
the Foreign Minister and National Security Advisor)
underscore the importance of "land-based" security--
specifically the ultimate need to enhance political stability
within Somalia, and to strengthen Somali national
institutions, in order to curtail piracy. They also stress
the need for a UN peacekeeping operation to stabilize
Somalia, and regret the delay in mobilizing such a force.
(The Minister of Religious Affairs noted that, in contrast,
the UN Security Council had quickly approved additional
forces for eastern Congo.)
5. (U) In conjunction with the UN SRSG for Somalia Ahmedou
Ould-Abdallah, Djibouti has played an instrumental role in
supporting and hosting Somali peace talks between the TFG and
the ARS. These ongoing talks have succeeded in concluding
recent agreements on a cease-fire, as well as on formation of
a government of national unity for Somalia.
6. (C) COMMENT. With its new $300 million container port due
to begin operations in December, Djiboutian officials are
heavily focused on maritime security. Post will continue to
engage with the GODJ to promote Djibouti's support of
international anti-piracy efforts. While Djibouti's
political will for engagement remains robust, Djibouti's
extremely limited resources (i.e., in terms of host country
military assets or judicial infrastructure) limit the scope
of its possible contributions outside the diplomatic sphere.
END COMMENT.
SWAN
SIPDIS
PM/ISO: J.FREDERICK AND PM/PPA: D.GLANCY
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/01/2018
TAGS: MOPS PBTS PHSA PTER DJ SO KPKO
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE: ENHANCING EFFORTS TO COMBAT PIRACY -
DJIBOUTI SEEKS COOPERATION
REF: A. SECSTATE 125514
B. DJIBOUTI 950 (NOTAL)
C. DJIBOUTI 947 (NOTAL)
Classified By: DCM ERIC WONG. REASON: 1.4 (B) AND (D).
1. (C) Per Ref A, Ambassador has raised USG talking points
on combating Somali piracy with key Government of Djibouti
principals, including Foreign Minister Mahmoud Ali Youssouf,
Presidential National Security Advisor Hassan Said Khaireh,
and Minister for Islamic Affairs Hamoud Abdi Sultan (whose
portfolio includes Somalia issues).
2. (U) As reftels note, Djibouti is increasingly engaged in
international efforts to combat Somali piracy, ranging from
hosting military facilities from which European nations have
pursued unilateral or multilateral anti-piracy patrols (e.g.,
Spanish P-3 maritime surveillance aircraft, the UK frigate
HMS Northumberland, German frigate in support of the
multinational CTF-150, French plans for the ESDP) to planning
an IMO conference in late January 2009 to address legal
conventions that could be used to stem piracy.
3. (C) According to French Ambassador Dominique DeCherf,
Djibouti is coordinating with France and the EU on status of
forces agreements (SOFAs) for international contingents that
will be based in Djibouti to conduct anti-piracy efforts.
DeCherf expects the Djiboutians to conclude the SOFAs quickly.
-------------- --------------
ULTIMATELY, LAND-BASED SOLUTION IS NEEDED TO STOP PIRACY
-------------- --------------
4. (C) Djibouti's foreign minister recommends international
support for formation of a 200-300 person Somali naval
counter-piracy contingent, as part of a newly established
Somali security force to be formed jointly (ref B) by
Somalia's Transitional Federal Government (TFG) and the
opposition Alliance for the Re-Liberation of Somalia (ARS).
However, in addition to supporting active naval patrols and
legal frameworks, senior Djiboutian interlocutors (including
the Foreign Minister and National Security Advisor)
underscore the importance of "land-based" security--
specifically the ultimate need to enhance political stability
within Somalia, and to strengthen Somali national
institutions, in order to curtail piracy. They also stress
the need for a UN peacekeeping operation to stabilize
Somalia, and regret the delay in mobilizing such a force.
(The Minister of Religious Affairs noted that, in contrast,
the UN Security Council had quickly approved additional
forces for eastern Congo.)
5. (U) In conjunction with the UN SRSG for Somalia Ahmedou
Ould-Abdallah, Djibouti has played an instrumental role in
supporting and hosting Somali peace talks between the TFG and
the ARS. These ongoing talks have succeeded in concluding
recent agreements on a cease-fire, as well as on formation of
a government of national unity for Somalia.
6. (C) COMMENT. With its new $300 million container port due
to begin operations in December, Djiboutian officials are
heavily focused on maritime security. Post will continue to
engage with the GODJ to promote Djibouti's support of
international anti-piracy efforts. While Djibouti's
political will for engagement remains robust, Djibouti's
extremely limited resources (i.e., in terms of host country
military assets or judicial infrastructure) limit the scope
of its possible contributions outside the diplomatic sphere.
END COMMENT.
SWAN